Better Detection for Prostate Cancer

TargetScan, it's a new machine that is helping doctors more accurately detect prostate cancer.

Shands is one of 12 medical centers using the new technology.

The incidence of prostate cancer has been climbing but the deaths from it have not been increasing at the same rate.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death in men. The TargetScan software tells doctors where to take the biopsies from, allowing doctors to perform a targeted biopsy on specific areas of the prostate, helping with better detection.

"There is a new arena of minimally invasive or localized prostate treatments availible now and better localizing to where the cancer is offers these patients better treatment options," says Dr. Sijo Parekattil, who works at Shands at UF.

Doctors say men should begin screening at 50 years of age, but of you have a family history of prostate cancer, screening should begin at 40 to 45 years of age.